All Creatures Great and Small

After an initial 1978 series that lasted just two years, this classic UK series was resumed in 1988 and once again lasted two seasons – but that hasn’t stopped it from being re-run all over the world to an almost nauseating frequency. Based on books by James Herriot featuring tales of veterinary life between the ‘30's and ‘50's, the series follows newly qualified vet Herriott (Christopher Timothy) as he starts working for Seigfried Farnon (Robert Hardy), an arrogant middle aged vet. Soon Herriott had fallen for and married Helen (Carol Drinkwater, who in real life fell for and married Timothy) and the series was as popular as it could be. After three seasons the beginning of World War II had all three vets preparing to enter the fray, so the series ended on a potentially grim note. But the punters never let go of their show and, three years later, a 90 minute Christmas Special brought the cast back, pre-empting a second series in 1988 that used original material. Drinkwater didn’t return for the second series and was duly replaced by Lynda Bellingham, which we don’t mind since they’ve both done a little on-screen nudity in the past.